The Wayro route from Uruapan to Sombrerete is 430 miles (692 km), about 7 h 36 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 430 mi (692 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-14D → MEX-37D → MEX-15D → MEX-43D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 |
| Mexican states on the route | Michoacán (Level 4), Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Zacatecas (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving this route in a car with U.S. plates
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required: this route is outside the zones where U.S.-registered cars can skip the temporary import permit (Baja California, Baja California Sur and part of Sonora) |
|---|---|
| Mexican auto insurance | Required for all vehicles: buy a Mexican policy before you drive |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Mexico travel information (updated August 11, 2026); permits are issued by Banjercito.
What the drive from Uruapan to Sombrerete is like
MEX-45D (163 mi) and MEX-45 (130 mi) carry about 68% of the 430 miles. MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 5 states: Michoacán, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Uruapan to Sombrerete, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Michoacán |
| MEX-14D | 4–37 | 33 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 37–75 | 38 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 75–79 | 4 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 79–80 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-43D | 80–131 | 51 | Michoacán, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 131–239 | 108 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-45 | 239–269 | 30 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 269–272 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 272–301 | 29 | Aguascalientes, Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 301–336 | 35 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 336–342 | 6 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 342–350 | 8 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 350–358 | 8 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 358–370 | 12 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 370–427 | 57 | Zacatecas |
| local roads | 427–430 | 3 | Zacatecas |
- Mile 95 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 194 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 243 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 296 of this route: Aguascalientes → Zacatecas (state line)
Stops between Uruapan and Sombrerete
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Rodolfo Landeros (mile 255), Historic centre of Aguascalientes (mile 257)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Rodolfo Landeros (mile 255), Jardín Botánico Rey Netzahualcoyotl (mile 260)
- Museums and history: Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 33), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 33), Historic centre of Aguascalientes (mile 257), Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 278), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 323)
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro
Pátzcuaro's basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud) rises on pre-Hispanic platforms beside its own plaza. Bishop Vasco de Quiroga planned it as a five-nave cathedral, only one nave was finished, and his remains rest inside.
Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares
Housed in an 18th-century building adapted from the Colegio de San Nicolás, which Vasco de Quiroga founded in the 16th century, this INAH museum in Pátzcuaro shows Purépecha pottery, textiles, woodwork and lacquerware.
Historic Centre of Morelia
Morelia's old core, founded in the 16th century as Valladolid, keeps more than 200 historic buildings in the region's pink stone around its cathedral and checkerboard streets. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 1991.
Parque Rodolfo Landeros
Also called Parque Héroes, this environmental and recreation park on Avenida José María Chávez in Aguascalientes has an artificial lake, bike rentals and several other attractions.
Historic centre of Aguascalientes
The historic center of Aguascalientes is the city's zone of historic monuments, which INAH has declared part of the nation's heritage.
Jardín Botánico Rey Netzahualcoyotl
The Jardín Botánico Rey Nezahualcóyotl is a botanical garden that falls under the administration of the Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes.
Museo de la Insurgencia
Set in a 17th-century estate, the Museo de la Insurgencia opened in 1964 to tell the story of Mexico's independence movement. One hall shows farm, mining and textile tools from hacienda work; another displays everyday objects from past eras.
Guadalupe regional museum
In Guadalupe, Zacatecas, the Museo de Guadalupe fills a former college that sent missionaries to the north and holds an important collection of 17th- to 19th-century painting, including works by Cristóbal de Villalpando, Miguel Cabrera and Juan Correa.
Historic centre of Zacatecas
Founded in 1546 after a rich silver strike, Zacatecas climbs the steep sides of a narrow valley; its UNESCO-listed center holds an 18th-century Baroque cathedral, colonial convents, the Calderón Theater and the old González Market.
More drives to Sombrerete
- El Salto, Durango to Sombrerete
- San Juan de los Lagos to Sombrerete
- Tequila to Sombrerete
- Paracho to Sombrerete
- Pátzcuaro to Sombrerete
- Morelia to Sombrerete
From Uruapan to other places in Mexico
- Uruapan to Amatitán
- Uruapan to Tequila
- Uruapan to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Uruapan to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Uruapan to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Uruapan to Real de Asientos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Uruapan to Sombrerete?
About 7 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 430 miles.
How far is Sombrerete from Uruapan by car?
About 430 miles (692 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Do I need a permit to drive my U.S. car from Uruapan to Sombrerete?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car on this route, which is outside the zones where it can be skipped. Mexican auto insurance is required for every vehicle.
Is it safe to drive from Uruapan to Sombrerete?
The U.S. State Department rates Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Uruapan to Sombrerete use?
In order: MEX-14D, MEX-37D, MEX-15D, MEX-43D, MEX-45D and MEX-45. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Uruapan and Sombrerete?
Closest to the road: Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (museum, mile 33, 1 mi from the route); Parque Rodolfo Landeros (park, mile 255, 0.1 mi from the route); Historic centre of Aguascalientes (historic district, mile 257, 0.1 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway mile markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on September 29, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.